Overview

Phenomenal course

‘My undergraduate course was absolutely phenomenal. I majored in criminology and policing, but I also did units from the policy and governance major. One of things I loved was that it gave me a really good understanding of the breadth of issues under the justice umbrella. I’m now working with an international non-government organisation based in Indonesia.’

Harriet HorsfallRhodes Scholar

Phenomenal course

‘My undergraduate course was absolutely phenomenal. I majored in criminology and policing, but I also did units from the policy and governance major. One of things I loved was that it gave me a really good understanding of the breadth of issues under the justice umbrella. I’m now working with an international non-government organisation based in Indonesia.’

Harriet HorsfallRhodes Scholar

Real graduate

'My work assists the Department of Justice and the Attorney-General to develop culturally responsive approaches to reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in the criminal justice system. While at QUT I received scholarships from the Oodgeroo Unit scholarships and Equity. They assisted with my basic needs and without these scholarships and the support of the Oodgeroo Unit I would not have been able to complete my studies.'

Jyi Lawton

Make a real difference

'One of the most important things about studying justice was learning about the stark injustices in the community and figuring out where my help was most needed. It’s estimated that one in three women are affected by domestic violence. If I can help a woman separate safely from a violent relationship and help her to negotiate her way through the legal system, then I get a real sense of satisfaction. It really is my dream job.'

Bronwen Lloyd

Real graduate

‘Policing offers a different challenge every day and the opportunity to help people often when they need it most. Within the Queensland Police Service there are so many different rewarding careers. While at QUT I was involved in a placement at Drug Arm in their Policy, Research and Practice Division. It was a great opportunity to put the skills I’d learnt into practice.’

Jasmine Rayner

Real learning

Head of School Kerry Carrington and key researcher Matthew Ball talk about what the School of Justice can offer you in criminology, security, and policing studies.

Double degrees

Details

Choose from two majors—policy and governance or criminology and policing. Expand your interests with secondary majors in law and psychology. Minors in Indigenous knowledges, forensic science and management are also available, with both policy and governance and criminology and policing available as a secondary major and minor as well. The study areas are relevant and applied, and include topics such as crimes of violence, eco crime, official corruption, youth justice, crime prevention, intelligence and security, drugs and crime, organised and transnational crime, political violence and terrorism, and death investigation. You also have the option to pick electives from another discipline.

The policy and governance major offers you the opportunity to learn policy analysis and the intricacies of how government officers research, analyse, recommend and develop policies in the justice sphere. Particularly, it gives you an insight into how policy is implemented and critiqued, and evolves through government and its departments.

The criminology and policing major details punishment and penal policy as well as crime research methods with your choice of units in eco crime, sex crime, death investigation, crime in pop culture, drugs and intelligence, among others.

Why choose this course?

If you want to make a difference and pursue a career where no two days are the same, this course is the right choice for you. The possibilities are endless for building a stimulating career in the community—not just behind a desk. You will be job ready by exploring the most recent theory and practice of social justice, and gain problem-solving, analytical and applied computer skills that are relevant to the workplace. The program adopts a multidisciplinary approach, drawing upon criminology, policing, policy, governance, intelligence, sociology, law, psychology and ethics.

The course is consistently refreshed to meet the needs of the community, government and police agencies for skilled staff. You will also benefit from academic staff who have worked in these areas and bring real-life examples and experience to your learning. At a theoretical level, you will engage with the concepts of social justice, human rights and equality to understand the way in which society defines, polices and punishes criminal behaviours.

Flexible delivery

Offered on campus and externally, all the lectures are recorded and study materials available online so you can access resources at any time and fit study into your lifestyle.

Real-world learning

You will have the chance to form industry links in a professional placement unit, undertaking a project at an external organisation. Previously students worked with corrections in the Northern Territory, completed a project in the Office of the State Coroner and gained experience in the Office of the Information Commissioner. Many placements are funded to cover flights and other out-of-pocket expenses.

Career outcomes

Justice offers extensive career paths in areas that make a real difference in our community. Career pathways include policing, customs, community outreach, child and family services, forensic investigation, correctional rehabilitation, mediation, outreach programs, social work, intelligence, defence, insurance and banking investigation, youth justice, Indigenous justice, community legal services, and policy and adviser roles within a range of state and federal government departments.

Past graduates have developed successful careers in state and federal law enforcement, correctional services, private security, defence services, foreign aid programs, customs, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and Scotland Yard, and have worked on social and justice policies for government and nongovernment organisations. Others have become criminologists, contributed to women’s, youth and children’s advocacy, or worked in the areas of human rights and antidiscrimination.

Advanced standing

Not confident about your OP or rank? Consider TAFE as a pathway. Students who complete the 12-month TAFE Diploma of Justice Studies may receive one year of credit in justice at QUT, meaning you could complete the Bachelor of Justice at QUT in two years instead of three.

Research pathways

After completing the Bachelor of Justice, you may want to continue with the one year honours program. See the Bachelor of Justice (Honours) course page for more details.

Units

Year 1

You will complete a suite of core justice units in your first year. These units will provide you with an introduction to the central knowledge required of a justice professional. Other study areas include intelligence, sociology, law, psychology and ethics. In this year, you will begin to acquire problem-solving, analytical and professional skills to prepare you for your second year of tertiary study, and your chosen career. You will also begin to develop general attitudinal skills relating to social justice and critical awareness, and cognitive skills such as information and information technology literacy, research and communication.

Year 2

Further developing the knowledge and skills acquired in your first year, you will select your major either Criminology and Policing or Policy and Governance and complete four units from your major. You will also study four units from your other area of interest. These can be chosen from the secondary majors in either criminology and policing, policy and governance, law or psychology, undertaken with a combination of electives, which could include a minor in Indigenous Knowledges or Forensic Investigation. Electives can also be chosen from outside the School of Justice and pathways will be offered to you to enable specialisation in relevant disciplines. Some units will require collaboration in group work, and you will learn important research skills and abilities in critical analysis and practical application.

Year 3

Using the skills you have built in the first two years, the third year provides you with the opportunity to choose more specialised elective units from within and outside the School of Justice. In your third year you will also have the opportunity to hone your research skills in a major independent study, You will also have the chance to form industry links in a professional placement unit, undertaking a project at an external organisation. Third-year students may also take advantage of QUT’s Career Mentoring Scheme to help guide them and develop skills and industry links.